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(No Model.)

MATCH SPLINT MACHINE. v No. 295,191. Patented Mar. 18, 1884.

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G. H. MILLEN & E. MOUSSEAU.

MATCH SPLINT MACHINE. No. 295,191. Patented Mar. 18, 1884 1 lllllfilill llllil 22 6. I Zara: Winawe;

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MATCH-SPLINT MACHINE.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,191, dated March 18, 1884.

(X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, GEORGE HENRY Min LEN and EDW'AR-D MoUssnAU, both of Hull, in the Province of Quebec, in the Dominion of Canada. have jointly invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Splint Machines; and we do hereby declare that the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the same. v

. Our invention has for its object to facilitate the manufacture of match-splints by scoring and slicing the splint-blocks by knives moving continuously in one direction in a horizon tal plane under a row of boxes automatically feeding the splint-blocks to the l nives,\vl1ercby any number of knives and any number of feedboxes may be used, to either increase or diminish the capacity of the machine, and the knives be operated without much loss of time and waste of motive power.

Our invention consists of a frame or stand having an endless apron composed of apertured plates or rectangular links hinged together, and sliding over or along two parallel flat rails secured to the top of the frame, on which is a row of boxes feeding the splint blocks automatically, said plates orliuks severally having knives to alternately score the splint-blocks and slice ofi" the scored portion horizontally,'thereby making the splints. The spl ints,aft'er being cut off by the slicing-knives, fall through the aproninto troughs having an endless-beltbottom to collect the splints at one end of thetrough.

Figure l is aside elevation of our machine. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on line was, Fig.

2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the top rails of the frame, and a portiouof the apron, and one side of a feed box and gear in elevation, Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 4.. Fig. 6 is a top view of the same. Fig. 7 is an enlarged top view of twoplates or links of the apron, showing the scoring and slicing knives 5 and Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same.

1 is the, rectangular frame or stand of the machine, of any suitable construction, having two flat parallel rails, 2 2, secured longitudi' naliy to the top.

3 is aheXagonal-sided wheel journaled to one end of the frame, and 4 is a like wheel jonrnaled in adjustable boxes sliding on brackets at, secured to the opposite end of the frame, said boxes adjustable by set screws. wheels 3 at carry an endless apron, which is driven by wheel 3 in any suitable manner, a. mode being shown in the drawings consisting ofgeanwheels, belts, pulleys, and shai'ting.

The endless apron is composed of square links or apertured plates 5, hinged together. The plates of the apron are alternately provided over the aperture therein with vertical parallel knives 15 of sufficient number to out the width of the splint-block, and at a dis tance apart corresponding to, one side of the square of the splints to be out. These knives are longer than the splints to be cut, and score theblock endwise horizontally. The cuttingedge of each knife inclines upwardly from the forward end, to gradually cut into the splintblock vertically, whereby a straight out or score is insured across any crook ed ness in the grain of the wood of the splint-block, and thereby each splint will have two parallel scored sides and be uniformly straight. The aperture in the plate prevents accumulation of wood fiber between the knives 15. The knives 15 fit into slots in the plate, or they may be inserted in a frame fitting into the aperture and held by clampscrews.

To the plates of the apron intervening the plates having the scoring-knives is, secured horizontally a flat slicing-knife, 16, preferably having a \I cutting-edge, and in two parts, for

convenience in sharpening. Each knife 16 is bolted to its respective plate at an elevation corresponding to the height of the scoringlinives, and said knives 16 out off the portion of the splint-block scored by the knives 15. 0

The V-eclged knife 16 is preferable. because it will cut diagonally and inward, and cut smooth without following the grain of the wood,.therehy insuring straight out, and make the splints straight.

The 55 The knives 16 5 2 a Y eeawi cause the upper band of the apron to run in a I We are aware that automatic feed-boxes horizontal plane under fiGdbOXGS 6, bridging the space between the rails 2 2, and bolted thereto at suitable distances apart. Each of the feed boxes or hoppers has an opening in opposite sides. in which turn feed-rollers 8 8', respectively keyed on shafts 9 9, journaled to the feed boxes, and said shafts carry at one end cog-wheels 10 10, meshing together and of the apron carrying the scoring-knives 15,

whereby the rollers 8 8 are intermittently rotated to feed the splintblock in the box to the knives 15.

13 is a stop-pawl, pivoted at its lower end to casing 12, to prevent retractory movement of ratchet-wheel 11 while pawl 12 is being retracted to a position to be again lifted by contact of the succeeding cam 14. This retractory movement is effected by a coiled spring, 7, one end secured to an arm projecting from the pawl, and therother end to an arm projecting from the casing or boxing containing the pawl.

The plates or links 5 of the apron, provided with a slicing-knife, are not provided with a cam; hence the t'eedgear of each feed box and the splint-block therein re'main stationary while the scored portion is being removed by the slicing-knife, and the cams 14 being a little in advance of the scoring-knives, the feed operation takes place only and immediately before the scoring-knives reach the block. The splints, after being sliced oif by the knives 16, fall through the aperture 1!) in the plate into a trough, 17, having an endless-belt bottom, 18, running over pulleys 19, journaled to frame 1. Said trough and belt are at a right angle to the course of the apron. The inner end of the trough, vertical with the feed-box, catches the splints as they drop through the apron, the belt then conveying them to the opp site end of the trough,which is closed by an inclined end to collect the splints compactly.

A machine or apparatus such as we describe may have any number of feedboxes 6, and the apron may be composed of any number of k nife-plates 5, hinged together, and the feed-boxes may be distanced apart so that all the knives will not be cutting at the same time, thereby economiziug motive power.

In making the apron, we prefer to have a blank plate or link intervening the plates or links carrying the scoring-knives and slicingknives; butsuch may be dispensed with.

such as we describe have been used in matchmaking machines having reciprocating knives to score and slice the splint-block, and that cutter-blocks for slicing hoop-stuff and boards have been attached to endless hauling-chains; but such cutter-block has not formed part of the chain.

\Ve are also aware that endless belt-convey- 7o ers have been used in match-splint machines having reciprocating scoring and slicing knives; but in such case they were not applied to convey the splints directly, a series of conveyer-belt-s arranged anglewise being used.

We claim as our invention- 1. The endless apron composed of apertured plates 5, or rectangular links hinged together having scoring-knives 15 and slicing-knives 8o 16, alternatingly, in combination with frame 1, having rails 2 2,wheels3 4, and feed-boxes 2. The combinatiom wit-h frame 1, having parallel rails 2 2, of the endless apron composed of plates or links 5, hinged together, having scoringknives 15 and slicing-knives 16, alternately arranged, aseries or row of feedboxes, 6, having feed-rollers 8 8', and ratchetwheel and pawl intermittently operated by cams 14 on the apron,to automatically feed the splint-block to the scoringk nives, and subsequently slice the splints, as set forth.

3. The endless apron composed of apertured plates or links 5, hinged together, having alternately scoring and slicing knives, the plates having the scoring-knives provided with cams 14, in combination with feed-boxes 6 and intermediate ratchet-gear and rollers, to feed the splint-blocks by the movement of the apron, as set forth.

4. The combination, with frame 1, having rails 2'2 and polygonal wheels 3 4, of the end less apron com posed of apertured plates or links 5, hinged together, alternately having 05 slicing-knives 16 and scoring-knives 15, feedboxes 6, having an automatic feed-gear oper ated by cams 14 on the apron, and troughs 17, having an inclined end and endless-belt bottoni,18,wherebythesplint-blocksareautomati- I o cally fed and successively scored and sliced by knives moving in a continuous plane, and the splints collected at the end of the troughs, substantially as described and set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of witnesses.

GEO. H. MILLEN. ED. MOUSSEAU. In presence of- J OHN GRIsT, R. 1?. KING. 

